Resources for Harvest and A Time for God s Creation

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1 Borough Market events After the Choral Eucharist, you can play games at Southwark Cathedral's South West churchyard and sample the delicious apple themed meals in the refectory. You can also head down to Borough Market and have a go at the apple peeling competition, and try a spot of apple bobbing. October Plenty Concluding the traditional fun on the day will be performances from the theatre company The Lion's Part, who will be leading a procession from Shakespeare's Globe theatre to Apple Day at Borough Market. Mixing the ancient customs of the October Plenty harvest celebration with their own contemporary theatrics, the procession is followed by games and entertainment for all at the market place itself. Taste of Autumn at RHS Wisley Gardens October 2011 You can literally enjoy a taste of Autumn at this popular event, where there will be more than 20 apple cultivars to try, including favourites such as 'Old Pearmain' and 'Rosemary Russet'. In the Cookery Theatre, the Taste of Autumn chef will be demonstrating how to make a range of scrumptious seasonal dishes. Resources for Harvest and A Time for God s Creation September 2011 Faith in the Countryside Group Harvest Mailing and Enviro-News And throughout, the RHS Advisory team will be on hand to offer a whole host of advice on all gardening matters, including how to Grow Your Own. A Blessing May the Spirit surprise you Like a dove from above, Or a swallow from below, But now and then like a blue wren! From 16

2 Each year the Diocesan Faith in the Countryside group sends out a mailing to our rural parishes highlighting new resources and ideas that can be used for Harvest Festival celebrations. This year we have extended this to include links to material which can be used during A Time for God s Creation a season intended to focus upon God's creation and our response to the environmental crisis facing the world. For this reason we are also circulating the harvest mailing to all who regularly receive our monthly environmental newsletter ENVIRO-NEWS. Where possible we have included links to website where the material can be downloaded free or ordered on-line. An electronic version is available to make it easier to access these websites. The list is not intended to be exhaustive so please let us know of other material that you have discovered and used. Revd. Carol Coslett Diocesan Faith in the Countryside Officer The Rectory Old Reigate Road Betchworth RH3 7DE Tel: ccoslett@btinternet.com officerectory@btinternet.com Harvest Resources Arthur Rank Centre In previous years we have highlighted material prepared or recommended by the Arthur Rank Centre at Stoneleigh Park. The ARC website provides a comprehensive list of resource from a wide range of organisations including ideas for worship and other activities. Follow this link and type in harvest at the search box. 2 The John Ray Initiative The Mission of JRI is to promote responsible environmental stewardship in accordance with Christian principles and the wise use of science and technology. JRI host symposiums and training sessions and publishes a range of material. STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS... 23rd October at Southwark Cathedral Celebrate the fruits of autumn with Apple Day at Borough Market. Bringing all kinds of delicious apple based goodies to their stalls, market sellers will be treating you to apple based delights throughout the day. Happy Birthday Bramley It's not just apples that are on sale during Apple Day at Borough Market. All kinds of autumn produce abound, with fantastic meats, cheeses and breads waiting to tempt you. Mountains of cakes and pies, along with sweet apple produce such as apple juice will be up for sale too. Autumnal cheer Bringing the taste of autumn into the heart of London, Apple Day at Borough Market is also set to be a day of autumnal festivity as live music and street performers entertain the crowds during the day. Celebrating apples and the arrival of the next season, Apple Day gives you a chance to experience the delights of the harvest and the nostalgia of the changes in season. Southwark Cathedral And it's not just the delights of Apple Day at Borough Market that will be tempting you on the day. Southwark Cathedral is holding its own celebrations with special displays of seasonal produce and fruit. Decked out in apples and the other fruits of the autumn for a sumptuous harvest style exhibition, Southwark Cathedral is also holding a Choral Eucharist at 11am on the day. 15

3 Last by not least... Don t stop at the Lights: leading your church through a changing climate by Claire Foster & David Shreeve (ISBN ). An excellent resource not only for this season but for the whole Church year. More information is available at feature.asp?id= &cachefixer=cf Background to climate change and the environment can be found on all the websites mentioned above. In addition further insights can be found at: Operation Noah Operation Noah is a campaigning organisation focussing on climate change. It exists because God s creation faces the most urgent peril, which, to be averted, requires a rapid and radical transformation of our economy and culture towards liveable, supportable lifestyles. Its mission is to encourage Britain and Ireland s churches and governments to lead a radical transformation in both our culture and economic systems; a transformation towards simpler, liveable and supportable lifestyles that will increase happiness and well-being, while safeguarding the whole of God s creation for future generations. Climate Stewards Climate Stewards is a project of A Rocha. It encourages people to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they are producing, and to contribute to projects in poorer parts of the world which will plant trees, whilst developing sustainable forms of income for some of the poorest on the planet. There is an accurate carbon calculator on the site. British Food Fortnight 17 September 2 October 2011 The tenth national food promotion, British Food Fortnight, takes place from 17 September to 2 October 2011 during Harvest Festival, the traditional time for celebrating our food. The event will celebrate the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces with promotions and tastings in shops, all-british menus in pubs and restaurants, food and cookery lessons in schools and glorious food festivals. Whether you are shopping in supermarkets or local shops, eating in pubs or restaurants or looking for fun activities to do at the weekend, you will be able to enjoy the best of British food during the Fortnight. Plans for 2011 As well as being the event s landmark tenth year, the 2011 running of British food Fortnight fires the starting gun on the event s plans for 2012 when it will take place at the same time as the London Olympics. Look out for: Menu promotions in pubs, restaurants and hotels: 9 of the largest food serve organisations, 8 major pub groups, the National Trust, Youth Hostel Association and all the chef associations regularly take part in the event. Tastings, meet-the-producer events and special promotions on the high street: hundreds of independent shops take part every year and there is always a rush of British promotions in the supermarkets during the event. Is it British? Yes, Minister! Major hospitals, school catering serves and even the Cabinet Office are enthusiastic participants. The event is proven to increase the uptake of school meals by between 20-50% so expect to see more British school dinners in Healthy eating activities in universities in conjunction with the Department of Health s 5 A DAY programme: 20 universities took part for the first time in Expect to see British food fortnight promotions in student cafes and canteens; stalls at Fresher Fairs promoting the healthy benefits of British seasonal food; and cooking demonstrations of simple recipes for students. 14 3

4 Cooking classes for Mums and Dads in Sure Start Children s Centres: expanding on the 8 pilots that were run last year (some of which were three-times oversubscribed), we will be sending chefs from British Food Fortnight s volunteer network into centres across the country to teach parents how to cook healthy family meals on a budget using British seasonal food. Buy British message promoted through an extensive media campaign. Tear Fund Tearfund is a Christian international aid and development agency working globally to end poverty and injustice, and to restore dignity and hope in some of the world s poorest communities. We operate in roughly fifty countries around the world. As well as being present in disaster situations and recovery through our response teams, we speak out on behalf of poor people on the national and international stage by petitioning governments, campaigning for justice and raising the profile of key poverty issues wherever we can. When it comes to development, we work through local churches and church-based partner organisations. Why? Forty years of experience tell us that people are not just mouths to feed, and that the causes of poverty are complex. When local churches are mobilised and equipped to help their communities, the results are not just survival, but transformation. Churches bring knowledge about local and individual needs, they have continuous presence in a community, and they re uniquely placed to help bring about the material, emotional and spiritual transformation that can free their communities from poverty. At Tearfund we work to mobilise and equip local churches to bring that transformation to their communities. And when the local church operates as part of the global church, its capacity and influence are a mighty force for change. We have a vision to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches. we_are_church_harvest_resource/ 4 Christian Ecology Link (CEL) Similarly the Christian Ecology Link website contains worship and other material plus links to other organisations where material can be accessed. A Rocha UK A Rocha UK s 2011 Environmental Resource Pack is available. Food is God s gift in creation, but today it s often either cheap junk, grabbed on-the-run, or an ethical nightmare and a cause of injustice and suffering. This year s A Rocha UK Environment Resource Park aims to reclaim a biblical understanding of food as something at the centre of our lives a source of celebration and joy and also as a way of bringing God s Kingdom values of justice and restored relationships into our lives. The pack contains enough material for a 5-week series, or can be used for single services. It includes sermons, short films, prayers, children s materials and resources and be used to help celebrate Environment Sunday on Sunday 5th June or Creation Time, 1st September 4th October. See for details on how to order Methodist, URC and Baptist Churches These denominations are also being encouraged to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint and to campaign on the issue of climate change. For more information visit the joining website which contains lots of material some of which comes from other organisations but other material, such as the URC Commitment for Life, which can only be accessed from this site. In addition, the Methodist Church Stem the Tide initiative has Bible Studies and worship resources that can be readily accessed via: fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=

5 Times and Seasons Liturgical texts relating to creation can be found in Common Worship: Times and Season (pages ) although there are other appropriate texts in other sections of Seasons and Festivals of the Agricultural Year. The Times and Seasons material has been published in pdf format before HTML and can be accessed at: Transforming Worship The Liturgical commission website includes the proposed readings for a Time for God s Creation and a link to the CTBI materials below European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) The ECEN website has background material relating to the proposed season and liturgical material gathered from a range of sources. Season of Creation The Season of Creation ecumenical website has a wealth of material from Australia, USA and New Zealand including liturgy, songs and ideas for sermons and children s talks. Although some of the material links specifically to the themes set aside for each Sunday in a particular country there are some excellent resources that could be used creatively within Eucharistic and non-eucharistic worship. Eco-congregation The Eco-congregation website has resources for worship, prayers, bible study and group studies Christian Aid This harvest help light the way to a future of plenty for farmers in Bangladesh. Reaping a harvest every year is not always easy, particularly in parts of the world affected by harsh, unpredictable weather patterns. In Bangladesh, climate change has had a devastating impact on the land. Soil and water are affected and families struggle to grow crops to feed their family, let alone sell. This year we focus our Harvest appeal on teaching innovative techniques and practical ways for Bangladeshi families to feed themselves and make a living from their land. USPG Come dine with USPG. New fundraising campaign is all about food, bun and fellowship and raising funds for some of the world s most vulnerable and marginalised people. We re asking you to host a church meal and invite guests to make a donation to the life-changing work that USPG supports through Anglican churches around the world. Cafod The world s poorest children desperately need our help. This Harvest Fast Day, we want to give children the childhoods they deserve: free from pain and suffering. In this section you'll find everything you need to help your parish to respond, through prayer and giving, to the needs of the millions of children whose lives are affected by injustice and poverty. The Methodist Church opentogod.content&cmid=874 5

6 Self Help Africa This year celebrate Harvest with a charity that is bringing hope to the rural poor in Africa. Our 2011 pack focuses on the women at our projects in Africa and gives a strong insight into their daily lives and the struggles that they face. We will follow the lives of Susan, Selina, Doreen, Harriet & Agnes from Uganda and Zambia who have all, through Self Help Africa s work been given hope for the future. This pack can be used by churches of all kinds and is crammed full of activities and information ideal for family services, house groups, youth groups and Childrens groups. Farming Help Farming Help brings together three national charities which work to benefit the farming community. Each charity provides different but complementary forms of help and support to meet a wide range of needs. Build Africa Build Africa works exclusively in rural areas of Uganda and Kenya to help young people escape poverty through education and income generation. Build Africa's mission is to help young people escape poverty and we believe that one of the best ways of doing this is to ensure access to education. It has been selected by young people and communities as the main area for us to target. Education is not in itself a ticket out of poverty, educated individuals can remain or become poor, but it significantly reduces the likelihood of poverty and opens new opportunities. 6 Our Creation Time resources, which encourage and assist churches, groups and individuals to observe a Time for Creation each year between 1 September and 4 October for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles, focus this year on Food in God's creation. May God make us more aware of his generosity and our responsibilities as we pray for our daily bread. The 2011 resources available for free download include: Sermon notes based on the Lectionary readings for the 5 Sundays Other sermon outlines Prayers of intercession / bidding prayers for a Sunday liturgy Service outline for a mid-week / ecumenical event, with accompanying PowerPoint Group study notes New harvest festival ideas Background information on food and agriculture A range of other liturgical material Church of England parishes are encouraged to support this initiative by choosing a Sunday between 1 September and the second Sunday in October when Creation will be at the centre of their worship and reflection. This might be in the context of the weekend of joint events with other churches and, indeed, members of the other Abrahamic faiths. Where appropriate, parishes are encouraged to link their Harvest Festival celebrations with this celebration, though in some places there will be good reasons for keeping Harvest Festival separate. The Creation Time materials are available as free downloads from A Welsh language version of the sermon resources will be available by the end of July, and an Irish language version shortly afterwards The Revd Bob Fyffe, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, says, "We encourage churches to begin planning now for Creation Time, and we hope that what we are offering will help them to do so. There is here a rich resource to meet the needs of clergy and congregations looking for ideas for harvest, as well as more in-depth material for worship and study use throughout Creation Time and beyond." 11

7 feature of the worship and shared witness of all the churches of England. Time for God s Creation incorporates several existing dates related to Creation themes in the different church calendars. In 1989 the Ecumenical Patriarch invited all Christians to observe 1st September as a day of thanksgiving for Creation and an occasion for petitions for it preservation and healing. The period also incorporates Harvest festival, celebrated by Anglican and Protestant churches and concludes on 4th October with St Francis day, when Roman Catholics reflect on Creation themes. CTBI Hope for Creation: a time for worship and action From the CTBI website: Hope for Creation! That's what British and Irish Churches have at a time when many scientists and campaigners are painting an apocalyptic image of a future dominated by climate change, and some find it difficult to have any hope at all. The Churches are not burying their heads in the sand, and they recognise the need to deal with and pray about the ecological problems that face humankind. To help people to do this, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has put together a programme of resources for use in what is being called 'Creation Time'. 1 September - 4 October 2011 Churches Together Our Daily Bread - Food in God's Creation 'What's the food like?', 'Who is providing the food?', 'Is there enough food to go round?' Our everyday talk constantly makes reference to food, which is no surprise, as food and drink are essentials for life and survival. Farm Crisis Network FCN is a UK network of groups of volunteers drawn from the farming community and rural churches. FCN volunteers are there to walk with and support farming people and families as they seek to resolve their problems, whatever they may be. In recent years there has been a period of very low farm incomes, and the additional strain of severe flooding and outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue and Avian Influenza. As a result, there are many situations of severe hardship and anxiety across the UK. Some farming families are struggling financially, some suffering from strained relationships and poor health and unable to cope with ever-increasing rules and regulations. FCN continues to support over 1,000 families every year. FCN provides pastoral and practical support to farming people during periods of anxiety and stress. Much of this work goes on quietly and with little recognition but its value cannot be over-estimated. FarmAfrica Harvest Festival is time to be thankful for our bountiful harvests, but also to remember those less fortunate than us who struggle with hunger and poverty. FARM-Africa helps poor farmers reap better harvests now and for the future. So by raising money to support FARM-Africa s work, your church can really make a difference this Harvest. When we pray "Give us our daily bread" we are both acknowledging our dependence on God's generosity and our realisation that the answer to that prayer needs to include agriculture, commerce, sharing, trade-justice, animal welfare, diet and a host of other considerations. 10 7

8 KidsforKids We are the only organisation created specially to help the children of Darfur, living out of sight of the world in the remote villages. Children are living in conditions which are beyond poverty. Some have never had shoes to wear, yet the sun scorches the sand to a searing heat. Children have never seen a toy, who have no books, no bed, not even a blanket, who have little chance of education and, worst of all, who walk miles for every drop of water across the desert. There is no health care in the villages. There are no roads, no transport. Water Aid WaterAid enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water and sanitation. Together with improved hygiene, these basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods, forming the first essential step in overcoming poverty. We work with local partners, who understand local issues, and provide them with the skills and support to help communities set up and manage practical and sustainable projects that meet their real needs. We also work locally and internationally to change policy and practice and ensure that water, hygiene and sanitation's vital role in reducing poverty is recognised. Church Mission Society (CMS) Lifting the lid on food and faith, the CMS Harvest resource for 2011 takes you on a journey from Argentina to Nepal, from Bangladesh to the Philippines, and from North Uganda to South London. We examine the big issues connected with our daily bread and find out how CMS mission partners are securing food production for the most vulnerable. 8 Food Awakening Food is a basic necessity, but farming is in crisis. Producers are receiving less and less of the price you pay. These returns are getting smaller. The relationship between consumers and producers of food is now controlled by powerful commercial players. While returns to farmers have shrunk, profit margins of food manufacturers, transporters and supermarkets remain steady or are increasing. What can I do? Buy locally produced food, from farmers markets, farm shops, box schemes or from the internet. To find out what local food is available in your area and where farmers sell their own produce call or visit Harvest Help For the small-scale farmers in rural Africa Harvest Festival is often not so positive. For too many of them, inadequate rains, exhausted soils or poor seeds mean that harvests frequently fail and there is little to celebrate as families contemplate another year of hunger. Harvest Help is committed to making poverty such as this a thing of the past, offering support and training to farmers to help them work towards self sufficiency and self reliance; an end to hunger and a secure future. A time for God s Creation At the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in 2007 representatives of Europe s Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches recommended That the period from 1 September to 4 October be dedicated to prayer for the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change. In June 2008 the four co-presidents of Churches together in England - Archbishop Rowan Williams, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O Connor, Commissioner Elizabethe Matear, and Bishop Nathan Hovhanissian - affirmed together their shared commitment to making the environment and collective responsibility for tackling climate change a fixed annual 9